Warrington Wolves' attempt to reach a maiden Grand Final has them facing a St Helens team accustomed to making annual Old Trafford trips. While Saints have reached the past six Grand Finals, losing the most recent five, Warrington have, as yet, failed to fulfil the potential displayed both during impressive league campaigns and in lifting three Challenge Cups at Wembley since 2009.

Last year they dominated the Super League season, topping the table and scoring an average of 40 points per game. When the play-offs arrived they slipped to a shock 26-24 home defeat to Leeds, having lost to Huddersfield in similar fashion in 2010. This season there has been a definite sense of aiming to peak at the right time, with their coach, Tony Smith, regularly resting senior players, even to the extent that they were heavily beaten at Salford and London Broncos. But when this year's play-offs began two weeks ago, they suffered defeat, again at home, by a St Helens team that were defensively outstanding in their 28-6 triumph.

The controversial play-off system, incorporating the ClubCall gimmick that allowed the league leaders, Wigan, to play Leeds, means the same two sides meet again, with Saints having enjoyed a weekend off while the Wolves regrouped to beat Hull FC 24-12.

The nature of that recent defeat by Saturday's opponents has again raised questions regarding Warrington's temperament at this stage of the season. "We learned a valuable lesson in the first week," said the Wolves' impressive back-row Trent Waterhouse. "We came in a bit anxious but we've got to stay relaxed and do what we've been doing all year.

"If we do that, it will come. The first week of the semi-finals, we were a bit tense and a little bit off. We found ways to fix that last week and stay relaxed and composed. That's when we play our best footy. If you worry too much then you won't do your job. We've 17 guys out there and if we concentrate we're more than capable of getting the job done."

Living up to their status as one of Super League's powerhouse clubs has not been a problem in the Challenge Cup, where Smith's side have lifted the trophy in three of the past four years, including August's triumph over Leeds. Whether that has had a subsequent effect on their play-off performances has been a source of significant debate, and the lack of a Grand Final appearance remains a glaring omission.

Waterhouse, a former Australia international who has become more prominent as the season has unfolded, is keen for that to change. "I went to Old Trafford to watch the Champions League game against Galatasaray last week. It was fantastic. I'm not a massive soccer fan but we loved it.

"I had a couple of seconds imagining what it would be like to play there. You can't help think like that, especially at this time of the year. It would be an awesome experience. It's like Wembley – it's got so much history – and it would be a massive occasion."

Much could rest on who partners Waterhouse in the Wolves second row, with Ben Westwood, the England international and Man of Steel nominee, hoping to return from a medial ligament injury that has sidelined him in recent weeks.

"Ben Westwood is world class," Waterhouse said. "He wouldn't look out of place in any team in the world and we've missed him over the last couple of weeks. It'll be a massive lift if we can get him back and he's definitely a big chance to get the Man of Steel."

St Helens will be able to welcome back their own back-row Chris Flannery, but the game has come too soon for Michael Shenton, who has a hand injury. They know they have what it takes to reach Super League's night of destiny in Manchester. For Warrington, that particular hurdle is one they will hope to overcome at Langtree Park on Saturday.